Produce consumption not up much despite health push

Published 10:00 pm, Monday, September 23, 2002

Eating lots of fruits and vegetables can help protect against chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, as well as ward off obesity. Yet 11 years after the "5 a Day for Better Health" program started urging Americans to eat more produce, consumption has barely increased.

Just 23 percent of Americans eat at least five fruits and vegetables daily, the minimum recommended.

When Americans do eat vegetables, they're most likely to be starchy white potatoes and nutritionally weak iceberg lettuce.

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The federal government's effort to fight obesity is trying to change that, starting with revitalizing the public-private "5 a Day" program (this is "5 a Day Week," in fact).

It's targeting the places where Americans decide between fruit or french fries: school cafeterias (more salad bars are promised), federal nutrition programs, restaurants and office vending machines, as well as supermarkets (bags and signs with messages about produce choices).